CHRISTMAS WITH A MEDIEVAL TWIST.
Revels Houston is bringing back a production they haven’t done for a decade as this season’s annual “Christmas Revels.” This year’s show will transport audiences to a castle in Medieval England for a celebration of the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. The Fool is using his hilarious antics to entertain the crowd gathered at the banquet hall as they all await the arrival of the King, who finally enters to lead the celebration. But when the joyous festivities are met with evil and the King faces the forces of Darkness, who can save him? Who can defeat Death? You’ll just have to see! The show is perfect for families: it’s full of merrymaking, singing, frivolity, and a Renaissance band - along with a splash of audience participation. And did I mention the dragon???
Revels began with John Langstaff, who recreated the joy of celebrating holiday music with friends and family in a 1957 revue. Although the show was a critical success, it failed financially. In 1970, NBC contacted Langstaff to recreate the show for a television special with Dustin Hoffman as the dragon. Langstaff's daughter, Carol, decided to give the stage show one more try at Sanders Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, an event that eventually launched Revels organizations in major cities across the U.S. When John's nephew, David Langstaff, moved to Houston in 1991, the path was paved for Revels Houston.
Final performances are this weekend, Friday, December 19 and Saturday, December 20 at 2:30pm and 7pm. Tickets are $12.50/kids 12 and under and $17.50/kids 13+ and $25 & $35/adults. All shows take place at the University of Houston’s Wortham Theater.
